Gloucestershire Woman and Two Children Die in Boxing Day House Fire
A Gloucestershire woman and two children aged seven and four tragically died in a fire on Boxing Day at their stone cottage on Brimscombe Hill, near Stroud.
The fire broke out in the early hours around 3am. The father, who is a serving officer with Gloucestershire Constabulary, attempted to rescue his family by breaking into the bedroom from outside and later entering through the bathroom window.
The mother’s body was recovered inside the property, and the body of one child was found within the mid-terrace cottage. A search for the second child is ongoing.
Police confirmed the fire is not being treated as suspicious and is believed to have been a tragic accident. Investigations indicate the fire started on the ground floor and spread upward, causing the roof to collapse.
The father was treated in hospital following the incident. A police statement described him as a well-liked officer who is cooperating fully with investigators.
An urban search and rescue team from Avon Fire & Rescue Service assisted in the recovery efforts, alongside multiple emergency services responding to the scene.
The family was known and much loved in the Brimscombe Hill community. Chloe Turner, Stroud district council leader, said the community is reeling from the loss.
